Full Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V FRIDAY, THE 25TH DAY OF AUGUST 2023 / 3RD BHADRA, 1945 AGAINST THE ORDER/JUDGMENT LP 108/2017 OF JUDICIAL MAGISTRATE OF FIRST CLASS, KAYAMKULAM PETITIONER/S: SUNIL KUMAR AGED 43 YEARS S/O,DHASARADHAN, CHIRAYIL HOUSE, KAPPIL KIZHAKE MURI, KRISHNAPURAM VILLAGE, KAYAMAKULAM ALAPPUZHA BY ADV RASHEED C.NOORANAD RESPONDENT/S: 1 STATE OF KERALA REP. BY PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM-682031 3 VARGHESE DAVID AGED 44 YEARS, S/O.K.P.DAVID, RESIDING AT KAROOR KUTTIYIL, KAPPIL EAST MURI, KRISHNAPURAM VILLAGE, KARTHIKAPPALLY TALUK, ALAPPUZHA DISTRICT BY ADV P.MOHAMMED ANZARI SMT. NEEMA T V, SR. PP THIS CRIMINAL MISC. CASE HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 25.08.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY PASSED THE FOLLOWING:
ORDER
This petition is filed invoking the powers of this Court under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (“the Code” for the sake of brevity).
2. The petitioner herein is the sole accused in L.P. No. 108 of
2017 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Kayamkulam. In the said case, he is accused of committing offences punishable under Sections 452, 427, 506(ii) r/w Section 34 of the IPC.
3. The prosecution allegation, as borne out from the records,
are as under: On 11.10.2012, at about 12.00 p.m., the petitioner along with the other accused in furtherance of their common intention is alleged to have trespassed and caused damage to the vehicles of the party respondent and thereby caused loss.
4. The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the
parties have settled their dispute and do not wish to pursue the prosecution proceedings. He relies on the affidavit filed by the party respondent in support of his contention. Counsel argues that if the proceedings are terminated, with the recording of the amicable settlement, the parties can move forward in an atmosphere of peace and mutual respect.
5. The learned Public Prosecutor, on instructions, has expressed
reservations about quashing the proceedings solely on the basis of the settlement. He argues that the facts and circumstances may not warrant the exercise of the court's inherent jurisdiction under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, it is fairly submitted that there have been no other crimes of serious nature registered against the petitioner to date. It is further submitted that the statement of the party respondent has been recorded, and he has unequivocally stated that he does not have any lasting grievances.
6. I have considered the submissions and have gone through the records.
7. In State of M.P. v. Laxmi Narayan,1, a three-judge Bench
of the Hon’ble Supreme Court has summarized the law as laid down in Gian Singh v. State of Punjab2, Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab3 and in subsequent cases. It was laid down as under:
15. Considering the law on the point and the other decisions of
this Court on the point referred to hereinabove, it is observed and held as under: 15.1. That the power conferred under Section 482 of the Code to quash the criminal proceedings for the non-compoundable offences under Section 320 of the Code can be exercised having overwhelmingly and predominantly the civil character, particularly those arising out of commercial
(2019) 5 SCC 688
(2012) 10 SCC 303 2014 (6) SCC 466
transactions or arising out of matrimonial relationship or family disputes and when the parties have resolved the entire dispute amongst themselves; 15.2. Such power is not to be exercised in those prosecutions which involved heinous and serious offences of mental depravity or offences like murder, rape, dacoity, etc. Such offences are not private in nature and have a serious impact on society; 15.3. Similarly, such power is not to be exercised for the offences under the special statutes like the Prevention of Corruption Act or the offences committed by public servants while working in that capacity are not to be quashed merely on the basis of compromise between the victim and the offender; 15.4. Offences under Section 307 IPC and the Arms Act, etc. would fall in the category of heinous and serious offences and therefore are to be treated as crime against the society and not against the individual alone, and therefore, the criminal proceedings for the offence under Section 307 IPC and/or the Arms Act, etc. which have a serious impact on the society cannot be quashed in exercise of powers under Section 482 of the Code, on the ground that the parties have resolved their entire dispute amongst themselves. However, the High Court would not rest its decision merely because there is a mention of Section 307 IPC in the FIR or the charge is framed under this provision. It would be open to the High Court to examine as to whether incorporation of Section 307 IPC is there for the sake of it or the prosecution has collected sufficient evidence, which if proved, would lead to framing the charge under Section 307 IPC. For this purpose, it would be open to the High Court to go by the nature of injury sustained, whether such injury is inflicted on the vital/delicate parts of the body, nature of weapons used, etc. However, such an exercise by the High Court
would be permissible only after the evidence is collected after investigation and the charge-sheet is filed/charge is framed and/or during the trial. Such exercise is not permissible when the matter is still under investigation. Therefore, the ultimate conclusion in paras 29.6 and 29.7 of the decision of this Court in Narinder Singh [Narinder Singh v. State of Punjab, (2014) 6 SCC 466 : (2014) 3 SCC (Cri) 54] should be read harmoniously and to be read as a whole and in the circumstances stated hereinabove; 15.5. While exercising the power under Section 482 of the Code to quash the criminal proceedings in respect of non-compoundable offenses, which are private in nature and do not have a serious impact on society, on the ground that there is a settlement/compromise between the victim and the offender, the High Court is required to consider the antecedents of the accused; the conduct of the accused, namely, whether the accused was absconding and why he was absconding, how he had managed with the complainant to enter into a compromise, etc.
8. Having carefully analyzed the prayer sought in the light of the
principles laid down above and also the nature of the allegations, the gravity of the offense, antecedents of the accused, and the amicable relationship that now exists between the parties, I am of the considered opinion that quashing the proceedings on the basis of the settlement will not have any adverse impact on society. In fact, it would only serve to bring about peace and secure the ends of justice. Additionally, persisting with the prosecution would be a waste of time, as the prospects of conviction are bleak. In light of all of the relevant circumstances, I am of the considered view that this Court would be well justified in invoking its extraordinary powers under Section 482 of the Code to quash the proceedings This petition is allowed. Annexure-II Final Report in Crime No. against the petitioner pending as L.P.No.108 of 2017 on the file of the Judicial Magistrate of First Class, Kayamkulam, are quashed. Sd/- RAJA VIJAYARAGHAVAN V JUDGE avs APPENDIX OF CRL.MC 5067/2020 PETITIONER ANNEXURES ANNEXURE I TRUE COPY OF THE FIR DATED 12.10.2012 ANNEXURE II TRUE COPY OF THE CHARGE SHEET IN LP NO.108/2017 ANNEXURE III A TRUE COPY OF THE AFFIDAVIT DATED 31.10.2020 SIGNED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT